Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Greatest Hits

Terry McAuliffe’s tenure as governor marked a period of progress for Virginia. His policies improved Virginians’ lives through economic growth, investments in education and transportation, and protecting the rights of all Virginians.

Despite a Republican-controlled state legislature opposing him at nearly every turn, Gov. McAuliffe helped bring in more than 200,000 new jobs while wages increased, reformed the criminal justice system to make it fairer, defended the rights of women, and ended veterans’ homelessness in Virginia.

As Virginia welcomes Governor-Elect Ralph Northam into office, let’s take a look at how Governor McAuliffe made Virginians’ lives better during his time in office.

1. Building a “New Virginia Economy”

Governor McAuliffe has been described as a “force of nature,” and nowhere was that description more apt than his efforts to boost Virginia’s economy. Creating jobs and bringing in new investment were always his top priorities and by any measure, he succeeded. By attracting companies in up-and-coming industries, investing in new job opportunities, and promoting innovation among Virginia businesses, Gov. McAuliffe accelerated the state’s economic growth. In just four years in office, he helped bring in more than 207,000 new jobs and $19.52 billion in capital investment. With job growth on the rise and unemployment at its lowest since 2008 — currently just 3.7% — it’s no wonder Virginia was ranked one of the top 5 best states for business.

2. Reforming the criminal justice system

Governor McAuliffe restored the rights of 172,298 former felons — more than any governor in history. Governor McAuliffe also encouraged rehabilitation programs to prepare felons for reentry into society to reduce recidivism. The proof is in the pudding. For two years in a row, Virginia has had the lowest recidivism rate in the country, as those who have been incarcerated return home with the tools and skills they need to be successful.

Gov. McAuliffe at the Restoration of Rights ceremony (8/22/16)

3. Expanding opportunity for Virginia veterans

Virginia is home to one of the largest populations of veterans and military families in the country. So when Gov. McAuliffe took office, he knew the Commonwealth must serve those who defended our freedom and be one of the most veteran-friendly states in the country. Through his Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program, Gov. McAuliffe cleared a path for veterans to develop business expertise, access high-paying job opportunities, and build long-term careers to support themselves and their families. To increase state services for veterans, Gov. McAuliffe doubled the number of veteran care centers in Virginia and opened multiple new veterans’ offices. And, especially noteworthy, McAuliffe made Virginia the first state to meet the federal definition of effectively ending veteran homelessness.

4. Defending women’s health care

Governor McAuliffe set the tone in his inaugural speech by committing to be an ally for women and an advocate for reproductive rights. As governor, he kept that promise: standing up to Republican legislators to protect women’s health centers across the commonwealth from closing. Gov. McAuliffe worked closely with his newly appointed Board of Health to remove costly anti-women’s health regulations that frequently forced clinics to shut their doors. In February 2017, Republicans in the General Assembly tried to slash funding for women’s health providers, including Planned Parenthood. Gov. McAuliffe protected reproductive health care and vetoed the bill.

5. Protecting voters’ voice

Gov. McAuliffe fought to make it easier for Virginians to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Not only did he restore rights to former felons who have served their time and returned to society, but he also fought for fairer district maps. When the Supreme Court ruled that GOP-drawn district maps must be reexamined for racial gerrymandering, Governor McAuliffe urged Virginia Republicans to abandon their partisan goals and draw district maps that give every Virginian a voice. Gov. McAuliffe has elevated his call for fairer districts to the national level, partnering with Democratic leaders to fight for better maps that uphold the principles of democracy.

6. Standing up against extremism

“There’s also a lot a governor can do on his own. Terry McAuliffe is proof of that.” In 2017, Governing Magazine named Governor McAuliffe a Public Official of the Year in part for his unique ability to overcome the restraints of a Republican-controlled state legislature and protect Virginian’s from harmful and extreme policies. Gov. McAuliffe has set the record for the most vetoes by a Virginia governor and even has a perfect veto record — Republicans have not once been able to override his veto.

Thank you, Governor McAuliffe, for your dedication to building a stronger commonwealth, improving the economy to work for all Virginians, and continually standing with all those who need and deserve a voice.

Your service for the last four years will benefit generations of Virginians to come.

Keep up with Gov. McAuliffe by following him on Twitter @TerryMcAuliffe